Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!

Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

I learned a few things from my vaction in Maui. If you dont own a GM product, you must live there, Gas is $4.10 for premium, Mike D from GreenDay shops at the ABC stores, WRX/STI are very rare, Legacys do not exist, Chevy Cobalts have launch control,(good for make it actualy go fast), only 1 road with 55mph limit, all the rest were 35 or 25, and Poi is nasty!

After 10 days off, its time to get back to work! While we made a good first impression with the tuning we did on our STI, Cobb Released the 08 WRX AP's and it was time to start selling them! We could just simply sell them with the base Cobb Maps, but that is no fun! After playing catch up all week, Saturday was my first free day, and here is what i did!

To make things clear as to how we tested our 2008 WRX sedan (yes, not the hatchback, its definately not stock). We are using the same Dynapack as we always use, using the same basic settings as we always do on Subarus. The runs were 14 seconds long, 3 seconds of launch, and on this car its done in 3rd gear. 3rd gear takes the car to 100+MPH so it works great.

Our base runs we did showed a peak of 210WHP and 245ft-lbs of tq. I thought this seemed a little high. High enough i had to go back on the internet to see what Subaru rated the 08 WRX in HP and TQ. No its the same, 224HP and 226ft-lbs at 2800 RPM. Did Subaru under rate this car? Given the WHP and TQ we saw, if you compare it to our STI's base readings, it makes the STI's 245WHP and 275ft-lbs not look so good. With all the dyno numbers we have seen on stock STIs (rated at 300HP) The 245WHP range has been exceptable as equaling 300 engine HP. So if 240-ish means 300 engine HP, what does, 210WHP mean in engine HP?? Surely not 224HP!

Graph showing our 08 STI in stock form and with stage1 mapping. The relationship of stock HP ratings vs. WHP ratings makes sense on this car.

Back to the Stage 1 08 WRX results. The lower HP graphs are what we got from the stock car, on the stock ECU. As i described above, this is very high for a WRX only rated at 224 engine HP. Running at 12psi peak dropping to 8psi at redline. The runs were very consistent. After an ECU reset to ensure things were ok and running smoothy, the base HP runs were estabolished. Unlike the STI the WRX runs very well in stock form. Like most of the newer Subaru engines, the ECU runs 14.5 AFR while on boost, up to about 3300RPM. This seems very dangerous, but obviously it works fine for low boost levels, and is done for emissions reasons. ZERO knock was heard, ZERO timing retard was seen, it ran very very well. Smooth, maybe not, but that is where we can come into play.

We first flashed the ECU with Cobb's Stage 1 map. Boost went up to 15psi, and tapered back down to 8-9-is at redline. The increase in boost at peak torque (3500RPM) made for an extra 20ft-lbs of torque, and 25WHP at 3500. As you can see, power at redline didn't change, because the boost was the same.

Now it was time to play! With some AVCS tweaking, adding a little more boost, changing boost response, you see what kind of results we got! At 3000 RPM, 65ft-lbs of torque over stock mapping, and at the same point we made 35 extra HP. The biggest gain we got was at lower RPM where the tiny WRX turbo is happy. At upper RPM, the turbo shows its small nature. The boost drops off after 4000 RPM and there is nothing you can do about it.

Next is Stage 2 tuning. With a free flowing turbo back exhaust, i think there is quite a bit left to get out of this engine. Mabye not at redline, but from 2000-4500RPMS there should be lots of room!
Look for intercooler, and Turbo back results with mapping soon!

But...but the WRX sucks and is slower than last years model and only makes 180whp stock. I can't wait to hear what the naysayers come up with now...

I think I'll have to stop by sometime this year to get my soon-to-have 08 STI's stock tune fixed. I've been looking for an excuse to take a drive through the US and this could be it! I really like what I'm seeing in your other post.

Out of curiosity, are there any concerns about the WRX's gearbox holding 300+lb-ft?

that is very impressive, you obviously altered tha 14.5AFR's up to 3000rpms right?

nice job! Looking forward to stage 2 results.

Ben

For sure! 12.5's in that area made more power and safer for higher boost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

But...but the WRX sucks and is slower than last years model and only makes 180whp stock. I can't wait to hear what the naysayers come up with now...

I think I'll have to stop by sometime this year to get my soon-to-have 08 STI's stock tune fixed. I've been looking for an excuse to take a drive through the US and this could be it! I really like what I'm seeing in your other post.

Out of curiosity, are there any concerns about the WRX's gearbox holding 300+lb-ft?

Ya, i figured there would be some guys wondering how our WRX got such high HP. But it is, what it is! If nothing else the difference from our base runs to the final are still the important thing to look at. I know the 07 and the 08 got similar 1/4 mile times, but the 08 also has the Traction control, and i wonder if the magazines turned it on or off?

Come on down! Its a good way to put some more break in miles on the car.

I too am concered with the gears, but according to Jeff Sponaugle they are the same as the RA gearset from old STI's. Also our 08 Hatch is holding up just fine with 390ft-lbs. Its not like it gets flogged like its on the race track, but 3 hours of dyno tuning (320-380 ft-lbs consitently) and a few track sessions at 340ft-bs, its doing very well. In fact it seems to be feeling better.

The AVCS is tuned like the other cars. Increasing it down low helps spool, and slowly shutting it off when it gets to 4500-ish, makes the best power. More aggressive settings didn't do much, but hey....we are on stage 1, so who knows what we will find on stage 2.

still looking forward to the 08 STI numbers as well... been following your threads. Great job!

Quote:

Originally Posted by asesls

It is very interesting to hear the base WRX in putting out that much power. Based on your runs, the base WRX is pumping out roughly 257 hp and 258 lb-ft tq at the crank???

What is even more impressive are the number from Stage 1. Good job!

I know, i was a little dumbfounded about the numbers too. It might be the newer SAE ratings playing into the numbers we are seeing?? I have no idea, but the delta from one to the other is still very good. Stage 2 coming up soon!

I would guess your gains will not be as high. For sure we would drop the boost a little, and pull some timing. I would guess, you would still be at 20WHP more than stock and 30-40more Ft-lbs. In the next few weeks, we are going to be testing some things on 91 octane. So Dyno graphs will be posted then.

I know, i was a little dumbfounded about the numbers too. It might be the newer SAE ratings playing into the numbers we are seeing?? I have no idea, but the delta from one to the other is still very good. Stage 2 coming up soon!

Which gear is closer to a 1:1 ratio--3rd or 4th gear? If 4th is a 1:1 and you made a pull in 3rd, then the numbers are going to be high by x%.

Which gear is closer to a 1:1 ratio--3rd or 4th gear? If 4th is a 1:1 and you made a pull in 3rd, then the numbers are going to be high by x%.

I have to give the benefit of doubt to these guys. This isn't the first WRX they've put on a dyno.... Still, there is a performance shop nearby and I'm tempted to take my 08 there and see for myself. I was skeptical too until I spent more time driving the 08MY... Certainly doesn't feel like a 175whp car.

Hey PERRINJeff, those gains are AMAZING! I seem to be one of a small number of people that own a stage 1 2008 WRX, and I am EXTREMELY interested in this map. Cobb's stock map is great, but this looks unbelievable! 300ft/lbs without a downpipe?! Unreal! Anyway, I would buy this instantly if the 91 octane results come back good. I live in CA/AZ, and the gas sucks, however, so does Cobbs map for it. I am running the plain 91 octane map, because their ACN 91 Map is awful (throttle response is DEAD). If you guys test well on CA 91 gas, then you have a guaranteed sale from me. I cant wait

Hey PERRINJeff, those gains are AMAZING! I seem to be one of a small number of people that own a stage 1 2008 WRX, and I am EXTREMELY interested in this map. Cobb's stock map is great, but this looks unbelievable! 300ft/lbs without a downpipe?! Unreal! Anyway, I would buy this instantly if the 91 octane results come back good. I live in CA/AZ, and the gas sucks, however, so does Cobbs map for it. I am running the plain 91 octane map, because their ACN 91 Map is awful (throttle response is DEAD). If you guys test well on CA 91 gas, then you have a guaranteed sale from me. I cant wait

Which gear is closer to a 1:1 ratio--3rd or 4th gear? If 4th is a 1:1 and you made a pull in 3rd, then the numbers are going to be high by x%.

The ratio doesn't matter at all because the dyno adjust the calculation base on the RPM and the inputed Ratio. So Tq readings will not change with different gears, but HP will because of the drag differences. But if you change the gear or number with out recalculating then it screws it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starbux

I have to give the benefit of doubt to these guys. This isn't the first WRX they've put on a dyno.... Still, there is a performance shop nearby and I'm tempted to take my 08 there and see for myself. I was skeptical too until I spent more time driving the 08MY... Certainly doesn't feel like a 175whp car.

We would love to see your results!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sk8erord

I'll be very interested in the 91 octane maps, as we don't have 93 here in UT. What elevation were these maps done at? I'm at 4500ft, so I'm curious if that will be an issue, also.

These maps are done at close to sea level, so mapping for you will have to wait a little while. But if you buy an AP from us, maybe we can work something out with testing a high elevation map?? Give us a ring!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLAME

Hey PERRINJeff, those gains are AMAZING! I seem to be one of a small number of people that own a stage 1 2008 WRX, and I am EXTREMELY interested in this map. Cobb's stock map is great, but this looks unbelievable! 300ft/lbs without a downpipe?! Unreal! Anyway, I would buy this instantly if the 91 octane results come back good. I live in CA/AZ, and the gas sucks, however, so does Cobbs map for it. I am running the plain 91 octane map, because their ACN 91 Map is awful (throttle response is DEAD). If you guys test well on CA 91 gas, then you have a guaranteed sale from me. I cant wait

Wait until Stage 2 tuning! The 91octane is not going to be the same but still gains over the free map. If it were me, i would just move to the east coast. 93 or 94 octane baby!

PERRINJeff, bear with me here, but I am a little confused... The graph above displaying the 300 ft/lbs of torque was done on 91 octane? If so, is this what I can expect with 91 octane from the chevron down the street here in Tucson AZ? Like I said earlier, I am not running the ACN91 map from cobb -- rather, I am running the plain 91 map. Is this currently bad for my engine? If I buy your upgraded map, will it be bad to run the plain stage 1 91 as well? My engine seems to be perfectly fine on regular stage 1 91...